The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
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Kansas
No. 24/23 Softball completes road sweep at Kansas, 11-2 (5 inn.)
03.27.2022 | Softball
Sophomore left fielder Bella Dayton blasted a grand slam as part of Texas’ six-run first inning outburst
LAWRENCE, Kan. – On Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark, a six-run, first-inning outburst set the tone from the start as No. 24/23 Texas softball (26-9-1, 3-0 Big 12) completed a league-opening series sweep of Kansas (10-18, 0-3 Big 12), 11-2 (5 inn.).
Notes
- Texas' six-run outburst marked the most runs for the Longhorns during a first inning in 2022.
- The Longhorns are riding a season-long 16-game unbeaten streak (15-0-1) dating back to March 6.
- Texas has started a perfect 3-0 in Big 12 play for the fourth straight conference season dating back to 2018. There was no Big 12 schedule in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Sophomore left fielder Bella Dayton knocked in a career-high four runs on her first career grand slam.
- With 2-for-4 effort, junior designated player McKenzie Parker stretched her reached base streak to a Texas single-season high 19 straight games.
- With two HR's on Sunday, Texas has now hit at least two HR's in a game 10 times in 2022.
- Texas is now 45-14 all-time against Kansas, including a 23-10 mark on the road in Lawrence.
Major Players
Dayton (1-for-1, three runs, two walks, grand slam HR, four RBIs); junior designated player McKenzie Parker (2-for-4, two runs, HR, three RBIs); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-2, run, walk, two RBIs); sophomore right fielder Courtney Day (1-for-4, run, RBI); sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka (2-for-2, run, walk)
In the Circle
Freshman Sophia Simpson (5-2) picked up the win by allowing one earned run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work.
The Details
Texas wasted no time putting together a serious scoring opportunity by loading the bases with one out in the top of the first on a Mia Scott walk, a Parker single up the middle and a Mary Iakopo free pass. Day knocked in the first run as her bouncer into the hole at short was fielded but a throw to third for a force was dropped for an error allowing UT to grab a 1-0 lead. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington wasted no time doubling the advantage by drawing a bases loaded walk to plate Iakopo and make it 2-0. With the bags still packed and one out, Dayton stepped into the box and unpacked them by crushing a grand slam over the center field wall to expand Texas' lead to 6-0.
With Simpson having retired six of the first seven she faced over the opening two frames, the Longhorns offense got back to work in the top of the third. A Dayton walk and consecutive singles from sophomore catcher JJ Smith and Popelka set the stage for a Jefferson sacrifice fly to left that made it 7-0.
Kansas eventually got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as first baseman Olivia Bruno hit a two-run HR to left center to cut the KU deficit to 7-2. With two Jayhawks on and still just one out, Simpson managed to induce a big 6-4-3 double play to limit the damage.
The Burnt Orange & White answered right back in the top of the fifth as a Jefferson RBI single and a Parker three-run HR to right center boosted the advantage to a commanding 11-2.
Trying to avoid the run-rule coming into play in the bottom of the fifth, Kansas managed a two-out rally on singles from shortstop Ashlyn Anderson and pitcher Savanna DesRochers. Simpson eventually finished things off herself, however, by handling a chopper back to the circle and tossing on to Iakopo for the final out.
